Joe Carlson spray paints the suspension cables of the Walt Whitman Bridge this summer. Corcon Inc. of Ohio is the contractor in charge of painting and steel plate replacement as it will be for a similar project to start on the Betsy Ross Bridge between Northeast Philadelphia and Pennsauken.(Photo: Jose F. Moreno/Staff Photographer)Buy Photo

CAMDEN – A number of major and highly visible projects will either begin or continue on the four Delaware River Port Authority bridges in the coming year.

They involve various construction and painting contracts that are all part of a 2018 capital budget of $166.7 million the port authority board approved Wednesday.

Among the projects:

The first phase of painting and steel repairs on the Betsy Ross Bridge.

The final phase of painting at the Walt Whitman Bridge.

More repairs and de-leading on the Commodore Barry Bridge.

Those projects will occur in the first half of next year.

In addition, construction of the first bicycle and pedestrian ramp onto the south walkway of the Ben Franklin Bridge from Camden is to begin by mid-December. It will replace a stairway that limited access.

DRPA Chief Engineer Michael Venuto said 2018 capital projects will help to upgrade, enhance and maintain bridges, the PATCO Hi-Speedline rail service and associated facilities.

"There are also a number of projects meant to improve the customer experience," Venuto said. The projects include elevator installation at PATCO stations, and the design phase for reopening the Franklin Square station in Philadelphia, he added.

Motorists will see overhead workers on many parts of the bridges and experience some right-hand lane closures for equipment and vehicles.

Later in 2018, steel repairs and maintenance painting will begin on the Ben Franklin Bridge, along with a dehumidification project for its suspension cables.

Construction contracts have been awarded for the bicycle ramp and elevator projects.

Onsite construction for the bike ramp is expected to start by January, with completion anticipated by April 2019. South State Inc.of Bridgeton won a $47.9 million contract to replace the existing stairwell with a bicycle and handicap ramp. During construction, pedestrian and bike traffic across the bridge will be diverted to the north walkway.

Design of a proposed 800-foot-long ramp for bikers and the disabled to access the Ben Franklin Bridge southside walkway from the Camden side of the bridge. The Philadelphia side has a ramp.(Photo: Delaware River Port Authority)

The design for the Franklin Square Station is expected to be finished during the second half of 2019.

The DRPA's capital spending is projected to be $8 million higher than the $158.3 million figure approved last November for the current year.

The five-year program for rehabilitation of more than 100 Hi-Speedline rail cars also continues.

To help finance these projects, the bistate DRPA secured $44 million in state and federal grants. The bulk of the annual cost will come from existing revenues, negating the need for a capital bond issue for the second consecutive year.

The total cost of all phases of bridge work is spread over a period of several years and exceeds $150 million for the Ben Franklin, about $144 million for the Walt Whitman and more than $200 million for the Hi-Speedline.

DRPA Chairman Ryan Boyer praised Chief Fiscal Officer James White and other agency staff for fiscal management that helped bring another bond rating upgrade by Moody's Investors Service this month. That followed similar bond rating hikes from Standard & Poor's.

“It is especially gratifying to have the hard work and fiscal responsibility of the entire DRPA/PATCO team recognized and, in fact, validated by the independent ratings agencies," Boyer said.

In announcing the ratings upgrades, Moody’s cited positive momentum in bridge traffic volumes, a strong liquidity position and reserves, expenditure control, and the authority’s ability to execute and fund the five-year capital plan through internally generated and “pay-go” capital funds, with no need for additional debt financing.